Stocking-supporter.



MABEL LUKENS IRWI, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

YSTOCKING-SUPPORTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented A1102 17, 1915.

Application led February 25, 1910. Serial No. 545,907.

To all ic/ioni Zt may conce/'n Be it known that l, Maman LUiiENs lnwix, a citinen'of the United btates7 residing in Philadelphia, lennsylva'nia, have i11- vented certain lmprovements in Stockingb'uppoiters, ofA which the following is a specilication. y

My invention rela-tes to stocking supportv ers; and the object of my invention is to 'dan' provide frictional supporting means for the stocking, `avoiding the contact or use of catches, clasps or other forms of fastening members directly with the stocking. but providing a device to .embrace the knee thatwill properly sustain the stocking and at the same time all'ord means for the attachment of straps or bands connected to and depending from the corset. 'llie frictional supporting means which I have. provided precludv all danger ol tearing the tops of the stocking, at the saine time firmly retaining the. stocking in piace and affording proper connection with the corset.

These and other features'of my invention will be fully pointed outliereinafter, refer-1y ence being had to the accompanying draw-` ings, in which:

l `igurey l5 is a perspective view showing my improved stocking supporter in kplace upon the leg of the wearer; Fig. 2, is a view of the supporter in place. showing the knee lient; Fig. 5. is a perspective view of my iniproved stocking supporter detached from the person; Fig. -l, .is a view illustrating a niodilied vform of one of the. elements eniployed in connection with my improved structure, and Fig. is a sectional view showing the means of attaching the straps or bands connected to and depending from the corset.

rlhc structure forming the subject of my invention comprises a broad band of ma# terial, indicated at l, and designed to einbrace the. leg olf the wearer above the knee, being preferably fastened b v suitable means as, for instance, a strap L) and buckle. 3, and overlying the stocking -l which is usually brought to a point sonic distance above the knee. ,ielow the knee a` band 5, somewhat narrower in width than the band l, is provided to embrace the leg. and this baud iiiay be. elastic; being fastened together by a suitable buckle or retaining device o. The npper band l is of friction material and may be wholly of such material, or it may have a friction strip carried thereby, or a portion that is elastic. In any instance7 however, it is prefe 'able that the marginal portions be non-elastic so that no undue constriction of the muscles, Vveins and arte-ries can take place in the use of the structure; it-being simply fastened by the strap and buckle. or other means, snugly against the leg of the. wearer.

Connecting the two bands, which are disposed above and below the knee in the inanner shown, are elastic members 7 which may be secured to the upper band and pass I through eyes of slotted plates 9 carried by the band 5 at the sides of the leg; such arrangement permitting the elastic members to slip when the knee is bent.

As shown in the drawings', the single looped connections 7 pass loosely through the eyes'of the plates J or QVso as to yield readily and changel position with the change of position. or movement of the wearer; such plates being also adjustable on the band 5.

The parts of the structure may becon-` nected vby sewing, by means of fastener members of any desired character, or in any other suitable manner.

The upper band l affords means for the attachment. of straps l() connected to and depending from the corset;l such straps having the combined function ot' holding down the, corset and of holding up the stocking, and in order to make their connection with the band l entirely practicable and easy of accomplishment, the latter is provided with apertures ll receiving an ordinary form of fastening carried by said straps 1U and usuallyr employed for this purpose. having a button l2 which extends through the aperture and a retaining meinbei'k 13 on the other side of the band to en-` g.-ige such button. This is a common form of fastening. and has no relation to my invention. The apertures I have provided however. are preferably bound at their edges with metal. and in practice the most` desirableI foi-mot -niaking the bound apertures is to provide eyelets therefor.

ln operation, the structure is particularly valuable for its frictional engagement with,

TheI bane beiw the knee Should be rela;

tively snug in order that upwardpull due to movements of ltheiupper portion of the body confined by the corset will not tend to force such'band over the knee.

' able to adjust the connecting means with nespecttosaid. encircling bands.-

l. Im a stocking supporter, the combinaf -ion of a non-elastic band encircling the leg above the kneeadjustable securing means .for the same, an independent and separate \elastic band encircling the leg below the knee, adjustable securing means for the same, elastic connectionsbetween said bands disposed at opposite sides of the leg whereby the front and rear knee inclosing portions of the structure are left free and unobstructed, and guides for said'elastic connections carried by one of the leg-encircling bands whereby said elastic connections are' free to slip between the leg-encircling bands,

and automatically adjust themselves when vthe knee is bent. n 4

f. 2. 'IIL a stocking supporter, the combination of a non-elastic band adapted to enciro le the leg above the knee, adjustable securing means for the same, an independent l lo ` cured to the non-elastic band, means carried' by the elastic band for adjusting the posi andseparate 4elastic band adapted to encircle the leg below the knee, elastic straps disposed vat thesides of the leg between said bands, said 'strapsbeing permanentlyy setion .of the elastic side connections with respect thereto; the front and rear knee inf closing portionsof the structure being left free and unobstructedfiid guides for said elastic connections carried-. by one ofthe leg-encircling bands' Wh'fgby .said elastic connections arefr'ee to slip between the legvwhereby the front and rear knee inclosing the leg at separate points abovemand below the knee, one of said elements being elastic,-.\

itions are free to slip between the leg-encirthemselves whenthe knee is bent. l Y 3. In a stocking supporter, the comb1nation of a non-elastic band encircling the leg abovethe knee, an independent and separate continuous elastic band encircling the leg below the knee, independent adjustable .means for securing said respective bands `in f place, elastic connections extending between said bands at the opposite sides of the same portions of the structure are left. free ande unobstructed, guides for saidelastic connections carried by one of the leg-encir cling bands whereby said elastic connections -v 6,5.

arefree toslip between the legencircling ha ds and automatically adjust themselves wh n the knee is bent, said guidesbe'lng adjustable on said elastic leg-encircling b'and, c and said `non-elastic bandfhaving provision for the engagement of straps depending from a corset.

4. In a garter or-stocking supportenthe combination of a pair-of independent adjustablevelements for completely encircling elastic .connecting means for said elements disposed at the opposite sides of the leg n whereby the front and rear knee inclosing portions of the lstructure are left free and unobstructed, and lguides-for saidy elastic connections carried by one of the leg-encircling bands whereby said elastic conne'c cling bandsl and automatically adjust them? selves when the kneeis bent, `said elasticV connecting means being permanently seencircling bands and automatically adjust 50` eoy cured to one of said leg-encircling elements.A

and adjustable with respect to its connection with the other. leg encircling element. In testimony whereof I'have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribingwitnesses. h

MABEL LUKEN-S IRWIN.-

Witnesses: V

MURRAY C. Bom, 'A WM. A. BARR. 

